Improvement in maqhujes foe peessefg hats



:i v I a 6^ ganzhtatrs garrot first.

IMPROVEMENT 1N MAcmNns ros messina uns.

e. L. THOMPSON, or New YORK,` N. Y.

Lettera Petten# N0. 60,088, dated November 27, 1866.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN: y 4

Be it known that I, G. L. THOMPSON, of 40 Division street, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pressing- Hats, Bonnets, etc.;V and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,v clear, and enact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in `the art to make and use the same, .reference being had `to the accompanyingdrawings, forminga part of this specification, in

which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of thesame.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of machines in whichthe operation of pressing hats',

bonnets, or other similar articles is eiected by means of steam or other iluid at a suitable pressure acting upon a ilexible diaphragm or core applied to one side of the article to be pressed, while the'other side is supported by a rigid block or form. By combining with said iiexible diaphragm or core, a piston which works in a suitable barrel or cylinder, and which can be moved towardsand from said iiexible core,'the pressure of the liquid pr iiuid can be increased or diminished at pleasure, and the'operation of pressing hats, bonnets, or other similar articles, vcan be effected with the'greatest ease and nicety.

A represents a bed-plate of iron or any other suitable material. From this bed-plate rises a standard, B, whichl supports the steam chamber, C. A'.lo the open end of this chamber is secured the form die, D,`suitab1e packing being interposed so as to produce a steam-tight joint, andby admitting steam tothe chamber, C, through the pipe, E, the :lie can be heated to any desirable degree. In order to faciltatethe operation of removing the die from the chamber and replacing another iu itsstead, simple screw clamps may be used to hold `the die in position, or it may be fastened in any con-veient manner. Said die is hollowed out to form a counterpart` i to`the hat, bonnet, or other article to be pressed, and said article is forced inthe die by the action of a core, F.

This core is composed of a ilexible diaphragm firmly clamped between suitable metal disks, b, whichare secured to the end of a barrel, G, which is' provided with a piston, H, and which communicates freely with the space under the diaphragm, as shown in iig. 1 of the drawing, so that water .or otherfluid contained in said barrel can be forced against the inner surface of the diaphragm. The barrel, G, is secured in a carriage, I, `which moves back and forth in suitable guide-ways in the bed-plate, A, so that the core, F, canbe conveniently moved towards or from the die, l); and freni the piston, H, extends a screw-rod, J, which is tapped into a nut,` K, secured in -the end of the carriage, I. A hand-wheel, L, serves to impart to said screw-rod a revolving motion, and by these means the piston can lbe moved towards or from the diaphragm, F, and the .liquid contained between said diaphragm and the piston can be compressed or forced up against said diaphragm with considerable. force. A pipe, M, serves to introduce'water or other liquid or duid between the diaphragm and the piston, and the pipe is provided with a suitableplug or stop-valve, c, 'so that it. can, be closed while the operation of pressing is going on. From thel carriageI, extend two rods, d, through suitable holes in the iianges of .the die and of the chamber C, and on said steam chamber isfitted a ring, 6 which is provided with bolts or catches, f, and which can be turned on said chamber. by means of a handle, g. If the carriage, I, with thelcore, F, is moved up to the die, and the ring, e, is turned, the` bolts, f, catch in mortises'in the ends of the rods,` `d, and 'the carriage is firmly locked and prevented from receding while the operation of pressing progresses. 'By' the action of the iiuid the diaphragm is forced into every part of the die, and one 'andthe same core can :be used for dies of diilerent shapes, and by means of the piston and screw-rodV the pressure can be regulated to any desired extent.

It is obvionsthat the screw-rod can be replaced by any suitable mechanism or contrivance, capable of producing the requisite pressure on the piston, and I do not wish toconline myself, therefore,` to the precise arrangement shown in the drawing, but reserve the right to change the' same asmayppear desirable.

I do* not claim in my invention `the ileziible diaphragm, or core, in a machine for pressing hats, such being` not new, buti i r What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination 'of the barrelI4 Gr, and movable piston H, with -the iiexible or `elastic core `F, and dieD,

constructed and operating .substantially as and for the purpose set forth. .i

' G..L`. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

WM. F. MCNAMARA, W. HAUFF. 

